So you thought about starting your fish farming hobby with Discus. She has visited his local pet store, done some research online, and has enough space in her living room to store them. Now the basic question is how to start?

If you search the internet, you will find that there are many websites dedicated to discus. You get detailed information about planting your discus aquarium, water treatment and regular cleaning, feeding habits for them, etc. But you may be confused with the different presentations.

If you want to find some useful tips in one place to start your discus hobby, here are some important ones:

1. You must have a tank big enough for them. The tank must be at least 60 gallons in capacity. To install such a tank, you also need a strong foundation. You should set a good location that is not exposed to direct sunlight. There must be some filtration system running in your tank that will keep the water clean. There must be a heater to maintain the temperature of the water. There must be a moderate lighting system in place.

The tank must be covered with a hood at all times. You should also have a hose to clean the bottom of the tank.

2. Once we have the aquarium ready, you should give it some time to cycle the water. This will help to form bacteria in the filters that will be useful for the fish. You should consult your pet fish store about the ideal type of filtration system for your tank.

3. Now let’s move on to the stage of buying discus fish. Obviously you will prefer healthy fish. If you can find a good breeder near your area, you will be able to get good quality fish. However, if there are none, you can still order by shipment from reputable breeders. Shipping will cost you around $100 and you can opt for expedited or priority service.

4. Once you have discus at home, you should quarantine them for a while before introducing them to your main tank.

5. Here are some important tips for finding healthy discus fish. The movements of the fish should be reasonably fast. If the fish is trying to hide in the dark, you should avoid it. If there are any dead fish in the tank you are buying your fish from, you should avoid them. You should also see if there are any visible lesions on the fish. The skin should be without any scratches and should not look slimy. The eyes of the fish must be clear. If the fish has bulging eyes, that’s not a good indication. You should also see if the fish can eat the food easily.

6. You can buy up to 10 small discus for the size of a 60-gallon tank. It should not be more than 2 inches long. However, once they start to grow, you should keep them at the ratio of 10 gallons of water per fish. This will help you keep the aquarium clean.

7. You can add some larger size gravel to make cleanup easier. If it fits your budget, you can add some decorative ceramic items that are attractive and easy to clean.

8. You should try to keep water conditions close to what discus enjoy in their natural habitat. To do this, change at least 25 percent of the water every three days. Water temperature should not exceed 84°F.

9. Your discus will have a big appetite. But remember, hungry discus are always healthy. You can offer them a wide variety of foods, including flaked foods, live foods, boiled vegetables, and frozen foods. You should provide dry food in the morning, while you can feed them live food in the afternoons and evenings.

If you have already decided that you will start your fish farming hobby with discus, it is a good decision. You will enjoy every moment from the moment you buy them, their growth, their interaction with each other and their elegant swimming throughout the aquarium. You will learn a lot from your hobby. Always feel free to ask your pet store staff questions, do research online, and follow the advice of your friends to update your knowledge.